Insect bivy

Abstract

An individual sized, sleeping bivy in the form of a lightweight, self-supporting, personal shelter that provides protection from bug bites and stings and, more particularly, concerns a personal shelter sized for an individual regardless of whether that individual is a child or a grown adult male to prevent illness and death, especially among children. The bivy includes an endoskeleton or frame overlaid and integrated with mosquito netting, and includes a flooring member connected to the endoskeleton. The endoskeleton is preferably, but not necessarily, an inflatable structure or a self-rising structure that can be collapsed into a small package suitable for easy carrying, for mass distribution, or to be supplied via airdrops.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An anatomically configured insect bivy comprising:
 a floor member having a bottom portion and an outer periphery; 
 opposing pyramidal tri-frame end supports each having an upper end, and a lower end connected to the floor member; 
 a first horizontal member extending between and directly interconnecting the upper ends of each of the opposing pyramidal tri-frame end supports; 
 a crimped area formed at each of an opposite end of the first horizontal member that will crimp opposing ends of the first horizontal member upon a partial deflation to entrap inflating air within the first horizontal member to thereby assist in preventing sagging of the opposing pyramidal tri-frame end supports; 
 insect netting operatively interconnected to the opening end supports, the first horizontal member, and to the floor outer periphery and having an entry portal provided therein; and 
 wherein each of the floor member outer periphery, the opposing pyramidal tri-frame end supports, and the first horizontal member comprises self-rising structures that when raised collectively form the bivy into an interconnected structure that will closely enclose but be spaced an anatomical shape of an individual. 
 
     
     
       2. The insect bivy as in  claim 1  wherein the opposing end supports, the first horizontal member, the horizontal side members and the outer periphery of the floor member further include fluidly interconnected, inflatable portions, and at least one inflation port for inflating and deflating the inflatable portions. 
     
     
       3. The insect bivy as in  claim 2  further including an additional inflation port accessible from within a raised insect bivy. 
     
     
       4. The insect bivy as in  claim 1  wherein the floor member is waterproof. 
     
     
       5. The insect bivy as in  claim 1  wherein the bivy is collapsible into a releasable, compressed package. 
     
     
       6. The insect bivy as in  claim 1  wherein the self-rising structure comprises a tubular encased self-rising foam. 
     
     
       7. The insect bivy as in  claim 1  wherein the self-rising structures comprises a series of interconnected spring force creating tubular members. 
     
     
       8. The insect bivy as in  claim 1  wherein the entry portal comprises a portion of the netting that is open and closable from inside and outside of the insect bivy. 
     
     
       9. The insect bivy as in  claim 8  wherein the entry portal includes a zipper. 
     
     
       10. The anatomically configured insect bivy as in  claim 1  further including a horizontal side member positioned on each of two opposite sides of the first horizontal member, with one of the horizontal side members directly interconnecting the opposing pyramidal tri-frame end supports on one of two opposite sides of the insect bivy, and with the other of the horizontal side members interconnecting the opposing end supports on the other of the two opposite sides of the insect bivy. 
     
     
       11. An individual insect bivy comprising:
 a floor member having a bottom portion and an outer periphery; 
 opposing end supports each comprised of a triframe having a first center member and second and third side members, the first center member and the second and third side members each having an upper end, the upper end of the first center member being interconnected with the upper end of each of the second and third side members so as to define an acute angle therewith at a top of the triframes, each of the first center member and the second and third side members having an opposite end connected to the floor member; 
 a first horizontal member extending between and interconnecting the top of each of the triframes; 
 wherein the opposing end supports, the first horizontal member and the outer periphery of the floor member further include fluidly interconnected, inflatable members, and at least one inflation port for providing air into and deflating air from the inflatable members; 
 insect netting operatively interconnected to the opposing end supports, the first horizontal member and to the floor outer periphery and having an entry portal provided therein, with the opposing end supports, the first horizontal member and to the floor outer periphery comprising inflatable structures that when raised collectively form the bivy into an interconnected structure that will closely enclose but be spaced from an anatomical shape of an occupant; and 
 a crimped area formed at each of an opposite end of the first horizontal member that will crimp opposing ends of the first horizontal member upon a partial deflation to entrap inflating air within the first horizontal member to thereby assist in preventing the opposing end supports from sagging and keep the insect netting from touching the occupant's skin. 
 
     
     
       12. The insect bivy as in  claim 11  wherein the inflatable members comprise self-rising structures. 
     
     
       13. The insect bivy as in  claim 11  wherein the bivy is collapsible into a releasable, compressed package. 
     
     
       14. The individual insect bivy as in  claim 11  further including a horizontal side member positioned on each of two opposite sides of the first horizontal member, with one of the horizontal side members directly interconnecting the opposing end supports on one of two opposite sides of the insect bivy, and with the other of the horizontal side members interconnecting the opposing end supports on the other of the two opposite sides of the insect bivy. 
     
     
       15. An individual, anatomically structured insect bivy comprising:
 a floor member having a bottom portion and an outer periphery; 
 opposing end supports connected to the floor member; 
 a first horizontal member extending between and interconnecting a top of each of the opposing end supports; 
 the opposing end supports and the first horizontal member collectively forming an upper support structure; 
 insect netting operatively interconnected to the upper support structure and to the floor member and having an entry portal provided therein; 
 wherein the upper support structure and the outer periphery of the floor member further include fluidly interconnected, inflatable members, and at least one inflation port for providing air into and deflating air from the inflatable members; 
 the insect bivy further including a crimped area formed at each of an opposite end of the first horizontal member that will sufficiently crimp opposing ends of the first horizontal member upon a partial deflation to thereby entrap inflating air within the first horizontal member to thereby assist in preventing the upper support structure from sagging; and 
 the upper support structure, the floor member, and the floor member outer periphery collectively forming the insect bivy into an interconnected raised structure that will closely enclose but be spaced from an anatomical shape of an individual. 
 
     
     
       16. The insect bivy as in  claim 15  further including a horizontal side member positioned on each of two opposite sides of the first horizontal member, with one of the horizontal side members interconnecting the opposing end supports on one of two opposite sides of the insect bivy, and with the other of the horizontal side members interconnecting the opposing end supports on the other of the two opposite sides of the insect bivy. 
     
     
       17. The insect bivy as in  claim 15  wherein the inflatable members comprise self-rising structures.